DESCRIPTION FOR HILL HOUSE, ALTANDHU, NR ACHILTIBUIE

Grid Reference: NB987125

HILL HOUSE is an old croft house built of stone (photo attached). There are stunning scenic views inland to the hills of Wester Ross and out to sea to the Summer Isles, Skye and the Outer Hebridees. A recent Automobile Association article stated:  “North-West Scotland’s scenery is about as good as it gets…majestic mountains sweep down to a wondrously wild and miraculously unspoiled coast”. It is one of the most unspoilt corners of the British Isles. There are abundant walking opportunities both along the coast and in the surrounding hills. Shop within 2 miles and pub within walking distance.

The price reflects the fact that it is not up to the standards set by Tourist Boards.  It retains much of the ambience of a crofter’s house in the mid-20th century, but has basic mod-cons (electric cooker, fridge(s), flush loo, bath), electricity and storage heating. It is ideal for people intending to spend most of the time out of doors. The owners family have been using it for holidays for the last 35 years. Although we let the house so that it pays its way, it is very much a “lived in” home and not an impersonal rental house. Downstairs – kitchen, bathroom, sitting room. Upstairs two bedrooms each with 2 beds (foam on peg-board – extremely comfortable). Both sets of single beds can form a double bed. It is very basically furnished - some of the furniture is made of driftwood and herring boxes. But is has one or two elegant pieces of furniture as well. The house is situated about 200 metres above the Achiltibuie-Reiff road - 5 minute walk uphill over a field from the road so it is not suitable for the un-athletic. (Since 2005 there is a rough track up to the house which is not recommended for cars). Please close all gates after you. Most people love the place, but a small minority fail to appreciate its unique situation and are put off by its simplicity. If you are a finickity suburbanite you may not  like it.

ALTANDHU is 2 1/4 hours drive from Inverness and 40 minutes from Ullapool. From Ullapool take the A835 Ullapool to Durness road and turn off about 10 miles north of Ullapool to the left near the AA phone box. Follow directions to Achiltibuie. The most obvious landmark is the Summer Isles Smokehouse in Altandhu which is on the road itself. There are three houses above the road behind the Smokehouse. It is the one in the centre with black metallic roof and white-painted walls and a red-painted wooden porch.

ARRIVAL – Do try to ensure you arrive in daylight. It is essential to have a torch if arriving after dark to enable you to turn on the “NON-HEATING” electricity (see below). We take soft things (bedding etc) in large black plastic bags which also affords protection from the rain!

PARKING - there is a layby in the road below the house and about 100 yds west of the Achilitbuie Smokehouse. It has been extended to give extra room for a car to park, but always leave room for another car to use the layby as a passing place as it is a single track road. It is advisable not to park in front of the metal gate leading to the path up to the house – some 50 metres west of the layby – as the shepherd may need to take his sheep through the gate from time to t ime.

TELEPHONE/ MOBILE PHONES - there is a public call box about 200 yards along the road towards Reiff. Reception for mobiles depends on your system. We have always been able to get reception (sometimes having to stand in the porch, or in extremis, outside, as the walls are so thick they hamper reception).

ELECTRICITY – There are two systems – HEATING (three storage heaters - sitting-room, hall, kitchen) and NON-HEATING (hot water, kitchen equipment, lighting, ring main):

NON-HEATING - switch on main switch on arrival; off on departure. Switch is clearly marked on wall to left of inner entrance door.

HEATING –each heater has ON/OFF switch at floor level and has two controls on top of heater – INPUT and OUTPUT – turning each control clockwise maximises, counter clockwise minimises. In very cold weather turn both to maximum; in warm or very warm weather turn both to minimum or turn off altogether (at floor level); in between you can choose combination that suits best. A good combination for average Highland temperature (neither warm nor very cold) is input to maximum or near maximum and output to minimum or near minimum. To get boost of heat turn output to maximum (but you will fairly soon have to increase input to maximum also). When you see switch at floor level light up this means heaters are loading (that is provided heater in question is switched on). Heaters are loaded at any time of day or night depending on the whim of the electricity board.

Heater in hall will be on when you arrive – other two heaters off.

WHEN YOU LEAVE PLEASE ENSURE HALL HEATER IS SWITCHED ON (Input at max, Output at min) AND OTHER TWO HEATERS ARE SWITCHED OFF (ie as they should be when you arrive).

METERS - Please read BOTH meters (non-heating one is white) on arrival/departure and pay us for what you have used when returning key. (Rate is: non-heating £0.0770/unit; heating £0.0428/unit)

DOCTOR - comes from Ullapool.  He has a surgery in Achiltibuie and there is also a district nurse.

SHOPPING – Excellent shop at Polbain has almost everything you need including fresh veg/fruit. Owner (Peter Drake) is very helpful.

RUBBISH (incl.ashes from open fire) You can get large and small bin liners from local shop. You can use these to take your rubbish away each day when you set off on your walk etc and dump in one of the road-side bins (location of some of these shown on map in kitchen). Do not leave rubbish by the road side below the house. MAKE SURE THAT NO FOOD OR RUBBISH IS LEFT ON DEPARTURE. PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE EMPTY CARDBOARD BOXES IN HOUSE!! HELP YOURSELF TO ANY FOOD THAT YOU FIND IN THE HOUSE.

LETTERS – you are in hands of postman. I think he delivers to house.

BREAKAGES - replace if possible - nearest hardware stores in Ullapool and Lochinver or let us know so that a replacement can be sent up with next tenant. Not always easy to buy things locally.

FIRES & HEATING - Do not burn driftwood as it sparks too much and might set fire to the wood floor. DO NOT LEAVE ANY DRIFTWOOD IN THE HOUSE AS IT MAY BE HARBOURING WOODWORM WHICH IS OUR WORST ENEMY. Better to burn coal or peat which you can buy in bags at Polbain Stores. There are also 2 electric fan heaters. Only use open fire in sitting room; please do not use open fires in kitchen or in bedrooms.

FRIDGE - Please leave clean and leave door open on departure.

HOT WATER - immersion heater expensive on electricity so switch off when not needed.  It heats up very quickly.

LINEN  none provided so remember to take your own bedding (sleeping bags, duvets etc), pillows, towels, teacloths, bathmat, table-cloth, etc. The mattresses are foam with no cover so you should take an under sheet or 2 of your own. King size undersheets and fitted sheets are ideal. Alternatively take the equivalent for single beds.

CLOTHING ETC - waterproof trousers, jackets and boots are strongly advised at all times of year.

PETS (ASSUME ONLY DOGS)

They are welcome but please have them deflea-ed. It is essential that they don’t chase sheep. If they do, they may well be shot at! Please do not let them pad around inside house with wet/dirty feet – especially not on the rug in sitting-room. Fold rug up if necessary. What ever else please clean  up after them and please dispose of their excreta away from garden and house.

WATER – It should be on when you arrive. If  for any reason it is not on close all taps in bathroom and kitchen; secondly go to back of the house. You will see the waterpipe going into the house. There is a valve which you turn anti-clockwise to allow water to flow (clockwise – if for any reason you want to switch water off). Do not switch on hot water heater until water system has filled up.

Please do not shut off water on departure unless specifically requested to do so. Leave all indoor taps open.

DEPARTURE - Please leave house clean (as I hope you found it on arrival). We do not have anyone to clean the house. We rely on you.